One of Canada's highest profile military leaders has claimed tens of thousands of dollars in expenses to move to a new Ottawa home just four minutes away from the old one.

One of Canada's highest profile military leaders has claimed tens of thousands of dollars in expenses to move to a new Ottawa home just four minutes away from the old one.

CTV News has learned that in 2012 retired general Andrew Leslie, who once led the mission in Afghanistan, claimed $72,000 in expenses, including real estate fees to move from one Ottawa home to another.

"It's terribly demoralizing to be witnessing a general who will reap the benefits for such a paltry move," former Veteran's Affairs Ombudsman Pat Stograntold CTV News.

Leslie retired in 2011, but members of the Canadian Forces are allowed to expense one final move after retiring.

Leslie, who is expected to run for the Liberals in the next federal elections, maintains he did not break any rules.

"The Department of National Defence Handles and pays all the costs for packing, shipping... the overwhelming majority of the expense is certainly the real estate fees," he wrote in a statement to CTV News.